With the curtain finally closing on our Indian summer and the wine harvests underway, there couldn't be a better time to replenish the wine rack with styles to suit the change of seasons.

Cooler temperatures and the vibrant hues of Autumn leaves signal wines with good levels of ripeness, concentration and power, just as if you were picking the grapes straight from the vine.

To celebrate such favourable conditions, here are some bunches that made the crush in previous harvests...

:: ROSE RUSH Just when you thought it was time to pass by those pale Provencal pinks, a polished Portuguese the colour of pomegranate reminds us that rose is not just a summer sipper and can be enjoyed year-round. Try Ter cius Rose 2013, Portugal (£7.99, Marks & Spencer) which is boosted by a good proportion of touriga nacional, along with castelao, for its vibrant, fruity flavours and the resulting berry delicious combo with a splash of shiraz (syrah) is refreshingly complex for a rose.

:: CAPE CRUSADER A joint venture between Waitrose and Cape winemaker Cederberg to support community projects, if you ever needed an excuse to drink for a good cause, Cederberg Waitrose Foundation Chenin Blanc 2013, Cederberg, South Africa (£8.99, Waitrose) is it. Overflowing with peach, pear and lime with a blossomy nose, it bridges the gap between a chardonnay and a sauvignon blanc and has intensity without weight.

:: POPULAR PINOT A far cry from the neutral white wines of north-east Italy we've grown accustomed to (pinot grigio is the third biggest-selling white wine in the UK), try La Tunella Pinot Grigio 2013, Italy (£11.25, www.corneyandbarrow.com) which is aromatic, lively and tangy with pretty floral notes giving way to plenty of tropical fruits and a touch of lemon zest and hint of almond on the finish.

:: GENTLE GIANT The largest wine brand in the world and biggest exporter of Californian wines, E&J Gallo have launched an easy-drinking red inspired by the fruits of Autumn which they hope will "capture the mood and time of cosy nights wrapped up under a blanket, candlelit roast dinners and quality time spent in the company of family and friends". Modestly priced, there's no denying Gallo Family Vineyards Autumn Red, USA (£6.99, Tesco) is soft, smooth and mellow.

:: WORKSHOP WINE A partnership between Morrisons and leading Australian winery, Rosemount Estate, wine enthusiasts were invited to enter a competition to attend a blending workshop weekend with Rosemount's chief winemaker to find their favourite flavour combination and create a winning blend. Described as a cross between a Cotes du Rhone and Rioja, Rosemount Estate Shiraz, Grenache, Tempranillo, Australia (£8.99, Morrisons) it has a rich and silky mouthfeel with sweet, berry fruits giving way to fine, dry tannins on the finish.

:: GRAPE EXPECTATIONS A crowd-pleasing, lip-smacking red from the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the South of France where the Mediterranean sun has blessed this old vine grenache with buckets of flavour, try Cabalie 2013, Cotes Catalanes, France (£8.99, Laithwaites). With a black fruit core of blueberry, cassis and jammy raspberry fruit, it's juicy and concentrated with medium tannins to add some structure to the soft, lush mouthfeel.

:: GOOD WITH STEWS A wine that really hits the spot with a beef casserole, a Spanish syrah (shiraz) such as Dehesa de Quixana El Ingenioso 2013, Spain (£11.99, www.virginwines.co.uk) complements the flavours on the plate with its perfumed nose and savoury, brambly fruits laced with cassis and a hint of prune, with earthy notes, herbs and oak surfacing on the finish.

:: CLASSY CLARET Bang on the money, Chateau Grand Tayac 2007, Margaux, France (£13.99, www.31dover.com) is a cabernet sauvignon dominant Bordeaux from the Left Bank that's aromatic, elegant and concentrated with ripe plum, blackcurrants, cedar, and spice, with ripe, supple tannins on the long finish. Far from austere and ready to drink now after having time to age, it's a top drop with roast beef and strong cheeses.

:: BEST BUY Scotland's rich flavour map... A must for whisky noses, The World Atlas of Whisky by Dave Broom, published by Mitchell Beazley (£35, available from all good book shops) has been fully revised and updated for this second edition.

With a large number of newcomers on the whisky scene, this new edition celebrates the importance of craftsmanship, flavour and heritage in Scottish whisky producing and consuming, gives expanded coverage on the rest of the world and other whisky-producing nations and provides tasting notes on more than 750 selected expressions.

:: LIQUID NEWS Tour de force... Following a sell-out run in The Famous Spiegeltent at the Edinburgh Festival 2014, The Thinking Drinkers will be touring their acclaimed comedy show, The Thinking Drinkers Guide to the Legends of Liquor across the south-east .

With their catchphrase 'Drink Less, Drink Better', The Thinking Drinkers celebrates liquid legends such as Alexander the Great, Winston Churchill, Humphrey Bogart and Dorothy Parker to name a few, and invites the audience to slide onto the bar stool of discovery and enjoy several free drinks along the way.

For more details about tour dates (October 24 to November 30), venues and tickets visit www.thinkingdrinkers.com/the-thinking-drinkers-guide-to-the-legends-of-liquor